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' O. KAUPER.

DEVIOE FOR HITGHING HORSES. No. 382,989. Patented May 15, 1888.

\ I I I Wdnesses; Inventor:

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UNITED STATES PATENT CONSTANTIN KAUFER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR HITCHING HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,989, dated May 15, 1889.

Application filed December 15, 1887. Serial No. 258,042. (No model.)

' than those heretofore employed.

To attain this end my invention consists, essentially, in a spring-tongs provided with small wheels or rollers in the end thereof, which are adapted to spread apart and admit a loop or ring permanently connected to the sidewalk when the rollers and tongs are dropped down upon it. This springtongs is contained in an open-edged casing held in position by studs or pins, two of which pass through the casing above and below the pivoted point of the tongs. Between the short arms of the tongs is placed a retractive spring, and branchchains connect with the shortarms, from which extends thehitching strap or chain, and a longer parallel chain is attached to the metal casing and connects with the shorter chain or strap just below the snaphook, at the upper end of the latter. The parts are all inclosed in leather. By this construction the pull will be upon the short chain or strap, which passes through the short arms of the spring-tongs and prevents thejaws carrying the frictionrollers from'opening, while to open the jaws the long chain which connects with the casing is drawn upon.

In the accompanying. drawings,which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my hitching device with one side of easing removed. Fig. 2 is an edge view Figs. 3 and 4. are views in detail of the ring or loop countersunk in the pavement or sidewalk. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective.

A represents the spring-tongs, provided with rollers or wheels 13, operating on pins in the split ends of the jaws, as shown, being confined between the flat plates of the open-edged metal casing O by studs or pins D D D the two and the jaws of the tongs in position at all times, except when the wheels or rollers are engaged, as in opening or closing, to admit the loop or ring in the pavement to pass through into the holding-jaws. A chain or strap, F, is passed through the loops or rings in the short arms, to which is connected the hitching strap or chain F provided with a snap-hook at the upper end. To this chain F just below the snap-hook, is attached a parallel chain, G, which connects with the metal casing of the tongs through the medium of the clevis or ring H. This chain G is shorter in length than the chain F the latter being employed as a deadpull, chain or strap, connecting only with the short arms of the tongs, while the latter is employed for opening thejaws of the tongs, to be hereinafter more fully described.

The top of the hitching loop or ring .1 is made with rounding or inclined sides and square at the base, as shown, and it is connected to a base-plate countersunk in the pavement, provided with a sort of toe-spring, 1*, so that it can be folded down and be flush with the sidewalk or curbing, and not come in contact with the feet of pedestrians.

In practice the foot or toe is pressed down upon the spring-plate, and the loop or ring will be raised to an upright position when the rollers or wheels at the end of the spring-tongs are dropped down upon the top of the raised loop or ring, which by its weight causes the jaws of the tongs to fly open and admit the ring, in which posit-ion it is held within the jaws of the tongs. Then the snap-hook at the end of the short chain is snapped into the ring ofthe bridle and the animal is securelyhitched, and all efiort to become free will be prevented, as the pull will be upon the short chain or strap, and branch chains passing through the ends of the short arms of the tongs and acting upon the retractive spring hold the jaws of the tongs firmly together.

In order to open the jaws of the tongs, an upward pull is given to the long chain,which instantly releases the loop or ring from the tongs, when the strap is released from the bridle and placed in the vehicle for use again, as occasion requires.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A weighted hitching-strap contained in a casing, or otherwise held, which consists of a tongs having wheels or rollers in the ends of the jaws, and two chains or straps of different lengths, one of which is connected to the short arms of the tongs and the other to the melai casing, as described.

2. In a hitching device, the combination, with the long and short parallel straps or chains, arranged as set forth, of a weighted holding-tongs having a retractive spring in the short arms, as described, and rollers or wheels in the jaws thereof, adapted to be opened when struck upon a hitching ring or loop, in the manner as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

CONSTANTIN KAUFER. L s.]

Witnesses: v O. W. M. SMITH, CHAS. E. KELLY. 

